Chasing Autumn #1 - Down By the River

The season's moving on quite sharpish isn't it? I'm conscious of resisting the urge to dive headlong into winter, snow and all sorts of festiveness. So if it's alright with you, thought I'd do a quick few posts on the best bits of our Autumn so far.

There's been plenty of rain but there's golden sunlight amongst the heavy clouds. Our river keeps rising and falling, threatening to flood but not quite getting there.

The canal, the old steam railway and the river all run alongside each other, lined with broadleaf trees, a few cosy, brick cottages and the lovely pub.

 

On our walk we met a chap who'd put up a couple of tree swings for his granddaughter to play on. He was so pleased to see our boys enjoying them too. What a lovely, lovely thing to do.

P.S. Thank you ever so much for your massively kind and enthusiastic comments on my new kitchen! I was bursting with pride. We had a smashing lunch last weekend. It's completely changed our home. Thanks for being so kind xxx

At last!

Finally, after 12 long years I've actually got a kitchen to call my own. I've lost count of the times I've painted over tiles, cupboards, floors even to try and improve some hideous set of units in the houses we've lived in to try and make a space feel more like home.

Woody was reluctant it has to be said. He'd have put up with our old, sad, rotten, leaking, broken kitchen forever but I'd reached my limit. I last did it up a couple of years ago but it really was beyond repair. So I went to Ikea and bought a bargain new kitchen that we can just afford and a couple of weeks back it was fitted.

All I wanted was something that when I cleaned it, it actually looked clean! There are no fancy, cheffy touches, just nice simple cupboards, with lovely deep pan drawers and proper lighting so I can actually see what I'm doing.

The Ikea fitters were superb and we didn't have to call or organise anything apart from buying our tiles and new flooring. We arranged for them to fit those too as well as a brilliant little plinth heater that warms up our galley kitchen really quickly and meant we could get rid of an awkward radiator. This meant we also got to have a fridge freezer in this end of the room rather than in the dining end which was always a hassle.

I love the tiles. They're the same as we had fitted in the bathroom last year but in here we chose a light grey grout because I didn't want to get fixated on it discolouring. It looks great!

I can't tell you how happy I feel to have a proper kitchen with appliances that work (and don't smoke or smell!) where we can gather as a family and enjoy where we are. Tomorrow all the family are coming over for a big Sunday lunch and I can't wait to cook for them and feel a tiny bit proud.xxx

Kitchen Supper

The clocks have fallen back and it was our first teatime in the dark this evening. For once it was just Woody and I at the table in the lamplight so we ate a spicy casserole while the boys had fun at their friend's.

 

It's all changed in our kitchen, not had chance to take pictures of our lovely new units and tiles yet but I'll get around to it soon. One of the best things is that we've been able to move things around a bit and everything feels a much more spacious.

Sorry about the poor quality pictures but it looked very cosy and despite the light levels I couldn't resist. The dresser looks properly at home now and the china cabinet is now full of all our photo albums and cookbooks.

 

I love reorganising things. It's taken me ages to have the time to do it but I've got rid of tons of things that we've gathered over the last few years and it feels good to have a clear out. Autumn makes me want to do much more than the Spring. Must be that urge to hibernate I guess? 

There's a new lamp on the dresser and a beautiful painting (I need to frame!) on the shelf.

The school map should make it onto the wall one day I'm hoping too.

We sat listening to the radio together (the local football club have banned Woody's newspaper and there was a ding dong of a debate with his editor on the local station) and then we set the world to rights together. A cosy kitchen supper is a lovely thing x



Perfect Afternoon

All day today the rain has poured and brooding, bruised looking clouds have scudded low over the fields. There were plans for a bike ride along a valley track with my friends but by 9 o'clock the rain had come and we decided to save it for a brighter day.

 

Sunday stretched out ahead with lots of niggly household tasks beginning to pile up. Our new kitchen is fitted at long last, but it doesn't quite feel like home yet as there's a few things to finish (pictures very soon.) But then Woody lifted up his head and said "I thought we could go out for lunch. How about the Black Lion?"

Bingo! Woody recently got the restaurant reviewing gig for the paper which is a very exciting but we're usually restricted to places closer to the city. But he know that the pub had already been photographed during another job so brilliantly we could have our Sunday lunch on the newspaper.

 

Lucky us. And it was smashing. The Black Lion is a favourite pub of ours, all low ceilings, ancient faded black and white pictures covering the walls, open fire and a real range, decent grub and local ales, a serious darts league and rarely busy. Basically a proper village pub.

Today it was just the cosiest place to be while the rain hammered down. We met a lovely American family who were staying in Leek to trace their family roots back in Butterton. They were great company and we talked about local heritage and industry and how the weather where they're from (Seattle) is just like here.

 

Lunch was super. Good home cooking, nothing fancy, perfect.

The boys wanted to try the pool table but I was itching for a stroll around this lovely village which is the place I'd definitely choose to live if we could. It's only a few miles from home and easy enough to get to town...one day!

 

Luckily the rain has eased up so I had a lovely wander up and down the lanes with the dripping trees for company. There's is something about Autumn that completely captivates me. It's the textures, the colours, the scent of it. Everywhere woodsmoke curled from chimneys and hung heavy in the damp air. A week ago summer was still here but now we're firmly in my favourite season.

This is the time when I almost want time to stop, or slow right down so I can enjoy every change, every day, watch the bracken rust away, the leaves burnish and the drama build.

I love Butterton's different cottages, farms and houses. Some are new, some tiny, some rambling.  

My head's full of the most lovely autumn imagery now, it should last me all week!



Colourful...

Autumn for me is all about colour. Day by day it strengthens and deepens. Rich, golden and vibrant the green of late summer that's mostly flat and sullen, transforms into glowing shades that draw my gaze.

The patio pots are full of colour in September. Clashing rather a lot but I love them.

 

This late, extra warm weather is throwing me a bit. To be honest I can't wait to get my woolly tights back on and knock up a casserole. Those days will be here very soon though, so for now I'm relishing these last sunny days shining on us and the autumn colour they will bring. 

 

Discovering...



On a sunny, Autumnal Saturday we love to get out and explore. A market town, a café for coffee and cake, preferably somewhere with lots to look at, charming shops to potter arounf and hopefully a river to stroll along are the perfect ingredients. We found them all today in Newark in Nottinghamshire.

Such a pretty town crammed with the most beautiful buildings. Medieval, Georgian, Victorian all of the same warm, weathered brick nestle together around a handsome square up to the castle and along the riverside.

There are lovely shops, too many empty ones, but Newark seems to be just holding its own against these difficult times.

The Totally Locally scheme that's done such a lot for our town is launching there too. Hopefully it will be just the boost this lovely place needs to keep it vibrant and as lovely.